• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.162-169
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• 2010

This paper deals with the recognition algorithm of walking will based on torque estimation. Recently, concern about walking assistant aids is increasing according to the increase in population of elder and handicapped person. However, most of walking aids don't have any actuators for its movement. So, general walking aids have weakness for its movement to upward/download direction of slope. To overcome the weakness of the general walking aids, many researches for active type walking aids are being progressed. Unfortunately it is difficult to control aids during its movement, because it is not easy to recognize user's walking will. Many kinds of methods are proposed to recognize of user's walking will. In this paper, we propose walking will recognition algorithm by using torque estimation from wheels. First, we measure wheel velocity and voltage at the walking aids. From these data, external forces are extracted. And then walking will that is included by walking velocity and direction is estimated. Here, all the processes are verified by simulation and experiment in the real world.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2010

This paper presents the control algorithm of active walking aids estimating external torque of the wheels from user's will. Nowadays, interest of the walking aids is increased according to the increase in population of elder and handicapped person. Although many walking aids are developed, most of walking aids don't have any actuators for its movement. However, general walking aids have weakness for its movement to upward/download direction of slope. To overcome the weakness of the general walking aids, many researches for active type walking aids are being progressed. Unfortunately it is difficult to precision control of walking will during its movement, because it is not easy to recognize user's walking will. Many kinds of methods are proposed to recognize of user's walking will. In this paper, we propose control algorithm of walking aids by using torque estimation from wheels. First, we measure wheel velocity and voltage at the walking aids. From these data, external forces are extracted. And then walking will that is included by walking velocity and direction is estimated. Finally, walking aids are controlled by these data. Here, all the processes are verified by simulation.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.451-456
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• 2020

This study compared the utility of walking aids, and activities of daily life depending on the ability of people with mobility disabilities to use walking aids. Data were extracted from the Korea Welfare Panel Study in 2014. Data of 435,947 individuals were analyzed using chi-square and t-tests. The findings from this study showed that disabled persons who cannot use walking aids independently were more likely to have a severe disability level and a lower level of daily activities than the independent group. The level of social participation and leisure activities were also significantly lower in the dependent than the independent group. Therefore, walking aids should be tailored for individuals depending on their level of independence for using walking aids.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2011

This paper presents the vibration reduction algorithm at the walking-will recognition sensors on the uneven terrain. Recently, concern about walking assistant aids is increasing according to the increase in population of elder and handicapped person. However, most of walking aids don't have any actuators for its movement. So, general walking aids have weakness for its movement to upward/download direction of slope. To overcome the weakness of the general walking aids, many researches for active type walking aids are being progressed. Especially, vibration analysis and impulse reduction are one of the important elements of the active-type walking aid during moving on the outdoor area because the ground has many kinds of obstacles such as speed dumps, puddles and so on. So, we analyze the influence from vibration by uneven terrain. And then, we propose the impulse reduction algorithm to overcome the vibration. All the processes are verified experimentally in an active-type walking aid.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.325-335
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• 2024

Existing research on walking aids has primarily focused on functional improvements, often neglecting negative aspects such as physical injuries and psychological discomfort, which limits the elderly's active participation in outdoor activities. This study aims to analyze issues related to outdoor walking stemming from physical and psychological factors in the elderly and to propose design directions for walking aids that align with their preferences. In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 elderly individuals aged 65 and above who use rollators, from May 2024 to June 2024. The interviews were analyzed using a questionnaire based on psychological factors identified in previous studies and functional aspects, utilizing Universal Design principles. The five-stage design thinking model from d.school was employed for problem definition. Issues related to walking aids were identified and analyzed during the 'Empathize' and 'Define' stages. The findings highlight priorities such as maintaining proper posture, reducing vibration, improving ease of folding and speed control, and providing additional storage space without causing discomfort. The proposed design directions reflect the needs and aspirations derived from the actual experiences of elderly individuals. The study's findings are expected to contribute to the development of walking aids that enhance usability and confidence, thereby improving the quality of life for elderly individuals.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the weight bearing of the cane and foot for the different walking aids during walking. Methods: A total of 12 subjects (6 males, 6 female) with stroke were enrolled in the study. Foot sensor and an instrumented cane were integrated to analyze the vertical peak force on the foot and cane. Results: The vertical peak force applied on the quad cane gait resulted in a significantly higher rate, which was $10.60{\pm}6.48%$ of the body weight, when compared to that of mono cane gait which was $7.91{\pm}4.11%$. The results indicated significantly lower vertical peak force on the affected foot, without the help of a walking aid, as compared to that of walking with a cane (respectively, p<0.05). However, results showed that the differences in vertical peak force on the affected foot, between mono cane and quad cane, were not significant. Conclusion: In conclusion, the vertical peak forces were significantly greater, during a comparison between walking with a quad cane and walking with a mono cane. On the contrary, no significant difference in the vertical peak force on the affected foot between walking with quad cane and walking with a mono cane. Muscle activation pattern and walking pattern should be measured in future studies, to study the differences between walking with various walking aids in the lower and higher functioning hemiparetic subjects, as its use may mask underlying gait impairment.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.31-38
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• 2020

In this paper, we compare and analyze smart technologies and present six obstacle detection features to help visually impaired people walk. Traditionally, visually impaired people walk with the white cane or a guide dog. With the development of IoT technology, various smart walking aids systems have been developed. Those intelligent walking aids systems have obstacle-detecting systems and route-guidance systems. Many researchers are developing the walking aids system, which detects an obstacle and provides the obstacle information by haptic feedback. Also, they are designing the database server system to share the obstacle information. Particularly the composed system can quickly give an obstacle-avoidance route using shared obstacle information. Smart walking aids systems for visually impaired people will advance more rapidly by applying machine learning and intelligent systems.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.51-62
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide data about the risk factors related to falls among elderly patients with dementia using meta-analysis. Methods: Key words used for search through electronic database (CINAHL, PubMed, Ovid-MEDLINE, RISS, KISS, DBPIA, National Assembly Library) included 'dementia', 'Alzheimer', 'fall'. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis and 'R' version 3.2.2 was used to analyze the correlated effect size. Results: Study results showed that risk factors related to falls were identified as the demographic (age, gender, education), dementia-related (disease duration, cognition), physical (body mass index, walking, balance, activity of daily living, use of walking aids, number of medications including psychotropic drugs, musculoskeletal problems, parkinsonism, comorbidity), psychological (neuropsychiatric symptom, depression), environmental (Physical environment), and fall-related (fall history, high risk group of fall) factors. The effect size of risk factors such as high risk group of fall (r=.35), use of walking aids (r=.33), depression (r=.31), psychotropic drugs (r=.27), Musculoskeletal problems (r=.25) were higher than the other risk factors. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, strategies to improve elderly patient's depression, intensive care for high risk group of fall, and adequate training with walking aids are needed for prevention of falls in elderly patients with dementia.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.250-257
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• 2018

Objecctives: This study investigates the effects of using customized walking aids individualized for stroke patients by measuring the effects of different cane lengths to determine the ideal length of walking aids for stroke patients. Methods: Cane lengths were determined from the greater trochanter with walking aids measured 5cm below, at the greater trochanter and 5cm above. All patients walked for ten meters with each cane length to measure speed. Then, we measured the opto gait, timed up go test, and electromyography three times each. Statistical analysis was performed using a linear mixed model, and in the case of significance, the p-value was corrected using the Bonferroni method. Results: There was a statistically significant differences in time up and go test(TUGT), 10m walking, stride and speed between the groups. Conclusions: Long cane length increases body symmetry, stride, increasing muscle activity, and short cane length increases balance and walking.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.108-119
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• 2024

In this study, we aimed to propose enhancements to the dimensions and design of walking aids tailored for elderly women. Specifically, we focused on wheeled walking assistance devices and aligned each structural component with the appropriate human body dimensions to suggest appropriate product dimensions organized by size clusters, aiming to maximize the practicality of the results. We extracted essential factors required for product design, including human body size elements. The dimension extraction method was clustered to establish connections between key human body parameters-such as height, weight, and age groups-and product dimensions. We conducted a comparative analysis of walking aid product dimensions according to the design elements and sizes of models currently available in the market. The outcomes of this study offer objective, data-driven insights into areas where existing models on the market could benefit from improvement and we anticipate that the findings of this study will provide a solid, quantitative foundation for individuals when selecting the most suitable model for their needs.